Connecting-rod.



No. 674,342. Patented May 2|, 190|.

c. H. HowLANu-SHERMAN.

CUNNEGTING BUD.

(Application led May 15, 1906.)

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Wilma/eo Y u @fm @i ITF STATES ATET OFFICE.

CHARLES II. HowLAND-SHERMAN, OF FATHFINDER, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO GEORGE I-I. I-IOwARD, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND SAMUEL G. R. COOK, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

CONNECTING-ROD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 674,842, dated May 21, 1901.

Application filed May 15, 1900. Serial No. 16,802. (No model.)

To cl/ZZ whom, it 11i/my concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES H. HOWLAND- SHERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pathfinder, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Connecting-Rods or Pitmen, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates vto improvements in connecting-rods or pitmen, having for its object the equal adjustment and wear of their brasses by modifying the structure and adapting the function of the bolts commonly employed to the direct actuation of the brasses. The double take-up of the brasses is thus accomplished without introduction of Wedges, cones, levers, springs, set-screws, or any of the other expediente previously adopted to att-ain this result.

My object is to maintain without the use of any ofthe above-mentioned agencies an isocentric arm length, reckoned from center to center of bores of the rod.

As my invention in no manner affects the ordinary structure of the shank or neck, dto., of the rod, I will confine my description to the formation of the head in accordance therewith.

The permanence of the isocentric condition is secured by the use of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of the form of my invention which is probably applicable to the largest variety of uses, being its application to a standard cap-end rod, such as is em.- ployed in light as well as in heavy machinery. Fig. 2 is a top plan of this standard form of my rod. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section of the rod-head Shown in Fig. l, taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 2; and Fig. 4is a central cross-section of the same rod-head, taken 0n the line 4 4, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is au end elevation, and Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the saine form of rod-head, taken on the line 6 6, Fig. l. Fig. 7 is a side elevation showing the employment of my invention in the construction of a heavy cap-end marine connectingrod. Fig. 8 is a top plan of the form of rodhead shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a central longitudinal section of the same form of rodhead, taken on the line 9 9, Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a central cross-section thereof, taken on the line 10 10, Fig. 7. Fig. 11 is an end elevation of the same form, and Fig. 12 is a vertical section taken on the line l2 l2, Fig. 7. Fig. 13 is a side elevation, and Fig. 14 an end elevation, of a synchronous Wrench constructed for the purpose of actuating the cap-bolts of my rod-heads, and particularly adapted for operating the bolts of the form shown in Fig. 7.

Similar letters of reference indicate Similar 'parts throughout the several views.

The rod-head H, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 3, 7, and 9, is preferably of the approximate contour of a rectangular fork or a body forming three sides of a hollow square and having semicylindric recesses rr, as shown in Figs. 4 and 10, adapted to receive parts to be hereinafter specified.

The cap C, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 7, and 8, is preferably of a rectangular plan contour, having cheeks flush with those of the fork of head and carrying flanges c c, engaging eX- teriorly and longitudinally with lugs or projections h h on the forks of the rod-head I-I, as more particularly shown in Figs. l, 3, 7, and 9.

The rod H carries brasses L L', as shown in Figs. l, 3, and 4, carrying the linings D D', while in Figs. 7 to 12, inclusive, the inner brass is shown of modiiied form and is lettered L2. These brasses L L' L2 are longitudinally slotted at their sides and ends, respectively, in such manner as to form the flanges ll Z2 Z3, as particularly shown in Figs. 4, 5, 10, and l1, which maintain an accurate exterior fit laterally upon the cheeks of the head I-I and cap C. The brasses L L L2 also have a longitudinal sliding fit upon the exterior faces h4 h5 h6 k7 of the rod-head H, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and l0. Semicylindric projections orlugs ZSZ, formed longitudinally on the edges of the brasses L L' L2, enter with a free clearance the Semicylindric recesses r r' of the rodhead H and are bored longitudinally to receive the bolts B B', as clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4, 9, andlO. The brasses L L/ L2 are preferably made as drop-forgings of steel, which admits of their entire contour being forged close to fitting size and requires very small expense to finish the brasses for assembly in the rod-head, as described. These brasses are, however, susceptible of being successfully constructed of any other sufficiently strong material for the purpose, such as castiron of tough qualityin the case of light pitmen, dac.

Stud-pins S S', shrunk in borings in the brasses L L L2, respectively, have projecting ends which iit in corresponding bores in the linings D D and keep the same from rotating, as plainly shown in Figs. 3 and 9. The linings D D have complete semicircular flanges d d', whose interior faces iit exteriorly over the outer faces of the brasses L L' L2, as shown in Figs. 2, 4, 8, and l0, thereby forming the lateral bearing collars or faces of the rod-head.

As shown in Figs. 8, 4, and 6, the bolts B B have special cylindric collars b b', preferably formed integral thererewith and located near their lower ends, of larger diameter than the bolt-shanks, which collars engage with and are adapted to actuate the lower brass L in a line coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the rod.

Wrench-holds b2 b3 are formed at the upper or outer ends of the bolts B B' B2 B3, as shown in Figs. 3, 9, &c., which enables said bolts to be rotated in their sockets and cause the axial take-up or adjustment of the inner brass L' by means of screw-threads b4 b5, cut upon said bolts and preferably engaging with corresponding threads in the base of the head H, as shown in Fig. 3, but optionally engaging with corresponding threads in the brass L2, as shown in Fig. 9. It will be evident by inspection of Figs. 3 and 6 that when these screw-threads b4 b5 arel fitted to tappings in the head H no bolt-heads are required on the inner ends of the bolts B B', but that where said threads b4 b5 engage with tappings in the brass L2 bolt-heads b b2 are used in the 3 ordinary manner, as shown in Figs. 9, 12, dto.

When bolt-heads are thus employed, they are preferably made as separable cylindric bodies 56177, which are interiorly bored and tapped to t threads bs b9, made upon the ends of the bolts B2 B2, and when so screwed up to their proper bearing position against the bottom ot' the countersunk borings hs 71,9 in the base of the rod-head H are locked by the countersunk screws or pins blo bu.

Ordinary cap-nuts'c2 c3, fitted upon threads at the outer ends of the bolts B B in the usual manner, are preferably employed where my invention is used in such forms of rod or pitman head as have separable caps. (See Figs. 1, 7, dto.)

The synchronous wrench, (shown in side elevation in Fig. 13 and. in end elevation in ,trated is exceedingly simple.

scribed.

Fig. 14,) consists of a frame W, in which is journaled a handle w, carrying the synchronizingpinion lw', meshing with the wrenchpinionsll;2 w3, keyed to the barrel-wrenches @o4 ws, whose hubs 106 to2 are journaled in the frame W by arbors retained in position by the nuts w8 co9. A reduction w10 permits the same to be pushed inwardly through its journal in the frame W for a limited distance, causing the synchronizing-pinion w' to disengage from the wrench-pinions w`2 to2 in such manner as to permit them to freely rotate on their arbors and automatically adjust themselves upon the Wrenchholds b2 b3, after which the action of a spring wautomatically returns the handle w to its position, meshing the synchronizing-pinion to with the wrenchpinions 'to2 ws in such manner as to enable the handle to be rotated and to thereby turn the bolts B B with Iexactly synchronous an gular travels.

It will be seen that my invention as applied to all of the standard cap-end rods illus- In every case the essential working is due to the lifting of the brass L by the bolts B B', (or the brass L2 by the bolts B2 133,) the opposite takeup of the outer brass L being due tothe inward adjustment of the cap against the same. The take-up of the inner brass L' or L2 in the application of my invention to all rods of the standard cap-end varieties is due to the proper rotation of the bolts B B or B2 B2,

.as will be understood, for instance, by reflerence to Figs. 3 and 9.

p The loosening or release adjustment of the inner brass L or L2 is accomplished in every case by an operation of the parts reverse to that above de- It is evident that the nuts c2 c3 must always be loosened prior to and tightened subsequently to adjustment of the inner brass, whether for its release or take-up `by this mechanism.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. Combined in a connecting-rod or pitman, a head adapted to embrace the brasses, brasses in said head, and means whereby both brasses may be directly adjusted by the same mem- 3 ber, substantially as set forth.

2. Combined in a connecting-rod or pitman, a head adapted to embrace the brasses, brasses in the head, and means whereby either brass may be directly adjusted in the direction of the other by the same actuating member, substantially as set forth.

3. Combined in a connecting-rod or pitman,

' a head adapted to em brace the brasses, brasses in the head, and actuating-bolts, whereby either brass may be directly adjusted in the direction of the other by the same actuatingbolts, substantially as set forth.

4. Combinedinaconnecting-rod orpitman, a head, bolts having collars or projections, and a brass embraced by said head and engaged by said collars or projections, said IOO lIIo

bolts being threaded as described, iitted with nuts, and having Wrench-holds, substantially as set forth.

5. Combinedinaconnecting-rod or pitman, a head adapted to engage the brasses, a cap, bolts threaded as described and having collars or projections, and a brass adapted to be engaged and linearly adjusted by said bolts, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination in a connecting-rod or pitman, of a head, brasses embraced thereby and engaged therewith, and threaded bolts adapted to directly adj ust the inner of said brasses by engagement therewith, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination in a connecting-rod or pitman, of a head, brasses engaging there- With, linings carried by said brasses, and threaded bolts adapted to directly actuate or adjust the inner of said brasses, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination in a connecting-rod or pitman of a head adapted. to embrace brasses, a cap, linings, brasses for holding the linings, and cap-bolts so threaded as to adapt them to linearly and directly actuate the inner of said brasses with its held lining, substantially as set forth.

9. Combined in a connecting-rod or pitman, a head adapted to embrace the brasses, brasses, and a mechanism adapted to maintain, by actuation of the same members, an adjustment of either brass in the direction of the other, and a permanent constancy of arm length, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES ll. HOWLAND-SIIERMAN.

Witnesses:

Guo. H. HOWARD, C. B. BULL. 

